The individual is responsible for crime - although they do accept that high levels of 'social disorder' and low levels of 'social control' are associated with higher crime rates

1 of 5

Broken Windows Theory - Wilson and Kelling

This is the idea that if an area is deteriorating and dishevelled (such as broken windows) it has a higher level of crime because it shows that people do not care about where they live (lack of social control) and this attracts criminal behaviour such as vandalism and joyriding. This can also lead to more serious crimes.

Zero tolerance may give the police the freedom to discriminate against certain individuals/groups

It's expensive to fix and can cause displacement

2 of 5

Zero Tolerance Policing

Strictly enforced penalties for relatively small crimes or anti-social behaviour such as begging or public drinking

Reduces the rate of crime because the punishment is not worth the crime

However, it fails to address the underlying causes of crime

It gives the police too much power and freedom which can lead to marginalisation

Increases prison populations and can lead to militaristic policing - the police working against the community rather than with them

3 of 5

Target Hardening/Situational Crime Prevention

Increasing surveillance and hardening the target of crime, making it harder to commit the crime by increasing the risks of getting caught and reducing the opportunities for crime

Makes the public feel more safe and secure

However, this can cause displacement of crime (crime moving to another area which doesn't use situational crime prevention)

Only protects wealthy communities from crime because they're the ones who can afford to implement situational crime prevention, whereas it's the poorer areas who actually need it because they have higher crime rates

4 of 5

Rational Choice Theory

Most criminals are rational thinkers

They calculate the risk and if the risk is low, then they are more likely to commit crime, assuming that the reward of the crime is high